Chapter 282: Expanding Paris
Joseph's carriage was still three or four kilometers from Versailles when he noticed the area was already bustling with people.
Eman glanced out the window and explained, "Your Highness, the official competition doesn't start for another two days. These people must have traveled from out of town to watch."
Ordinarily, strict dress codes applied to entering Versailles, but during the Star of France competition, people could freely access the palace square, just as they could during the King's birthday previously.
Thus, large numbers of ordinary citizens came to camp outside the square, awaiting the start of the competition.
They wouldn't find it boring, however, because due to the immense influence of the Star of France, various vendors had already set up their stalls here.
From snacks to fruits, from toys to shoes and hats, from painters to shoemakers, their stalls stretched densely for seven or eight kilometers along the open spaces on both sides of the road. The constant calls of hawkers, the sound of music, and the chatter of passersby filled the air, clearly forming a massive open-air commercial street.
There were even enterprising individuals who had pitched hundreds of tents in the shade, serving as temporary inns.
Archbishop Brienne, worried that too many people might cause trouble, had also dispatched the Palace Guard to patrol the "commercial street," further adding to its bustling market atmosphere.
Joseph observed the lively and prosperous scene outside the carriage, and an idea sparked in his mind.
As France continued to develop, Paris's population was bound to grow. Especially after Fashion Week and the standardization conference for weights and measures, not only did more minor French nobles flock to Paris, but the number of foreigners settling there also steadily increased.
Currently, Paris's permanent foreign population was approaching a thousand, most of whom were concentrated near the real estate projects associated with Fashion Week, while tens of thousands more were visiting temporarily.
The surging demand for the expansion of Paris naturally followed.
Versailles, isolated from Paris, was highly disadvantageous for issuing decrees and for the royal family to establish its image among the populace.
Joseph had long wanted to integrate Paris and Versailles, and now he saw a good opportunity.
Especially with the completion of the wooden railway connecting Versailles to Paris, the fundamental conditions for integration were already met, making it all the more imperative to place this matter on the agenda as soon as possible.
The carriage stopped in the Marble Courtyard, and Joseph noticed Queen Mary was not among the crowd who had come to welcome him.
Eman leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen is probably upset with you."
Sure enough, the Queen's maid, the Countess of Debeninac, quickly made her way through the crowd and curtsied to him, "Crown Prince, Her Majesty the Queen requests your presence immediately upon your return."
After speaking, she glanced around and quietly advised, "Your Highness, you were truly too reckless this time, running off to North Africa without permission. You probably don't know, but Her Majesty has been too worried to sleep every day."
"Uh..." Joseph rubbed his forehead helplessly. 'This felt like a parent scolding a child who had snuck out all night.'
He could only follow the Countess of Debeninac to the Petit Trianon. Upon entering the antechamber, he saw Queen Mary standing in the room with her back to him.
Joseph quickly stepped forward, bowed, and smiled eagerly, "Mother, I'm back..."
"Hmph!" Queen Mary tilted her head back at a forty-five-degree angle, not looking at him. "So you *did* remember to come back?"
"Of course!" Joseph quickly moved closer, flashing a brilliant smile. "Ah, the most beautiful, most intelligent, and kindest mother in the world, I haven't seen you in almost a month, and I've missed you terribly!"
"Oh, really?" The Queen still had her head tilted back, deliberately keeping a stern expression. "You dared to run off to such a dangerous place without permission? And you tried to trick me, saying it was within the country!"
"Tunisia is practically considered part of our nation now, isn't it?" Joseph moved in front of Queen Mary, took her hands, and rubbed them against his cheek. "See, haven't I returned safely?" As he spoke, he glanced back at Eman.
The latter immediately directed the servants to bring in several exquisite boxes, which were then opened one by one.
Joseph chuckled as he introduced, "Look, I had Tunisia's best tailor design this Tunisian-style dress for you."
"This is a necklace made from North African pearls, which I specifically selected for you..."
"This scarf is..."
Seeing that Queen Mary remained unmoved, her face stern, Joseph sighed softly and had no choice but to pull out his trump card.
"Mother, guess who I brought back for you?"
"Who?" The Queen glanced at her son. "It's no use, no matter who you bring to plead your case, it won't work!"
"Jeanne."
"Hmph, I said no matter who pleads..." The Queen suddenly froze mid-sentence, her eyes widening in surprise. "Who did you say?!"
"Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy," Joseph said with a faint smile. "The fraudster."
Queen Mary immediately grasped her son's arm, her eyes wide. "Are you serious? How did you find her?"
"Ahem, actually, I went to Tunisia precisely for this." Joseph immediately embellished the story of capturing the British spy, though in his version, his original intention was to exchange the spy for Jeanne.
"Oh, my darling! My good boy, thank you so much!" Hearing that her son had ventured into danger, all to retrieve the fraudster who had humiliated her from the British, Queen Mary's eyes welled up with tears, and she embraced him tightly. "But you really shouldn't have taken such a huge risk! Tripoli is even at war... Joseph, your life is more important than everything to me! That damned fraudster isn't worth you risking your life for! Oh, I'm so touched, my son has grown up, like a valiant knight, to wipe away my humiliation. And here I was blaming you, oh, I was so wrong..."
Joseph, blushing slightly, quickly extricated himself from the Queen's embrace and motioned for a maid to bring some cake and pudding. Then, he held up the red Tunisian gown, adorned with gold sequins and numerous curved embellishments, in front of the Queen. "Mother, you absolutely must try this on; it's very beautiful and will surely suit you perfectly..."
An hour later, Joseph, utterly exhausted after finally appeasing his mother, emerged from the Petit Trianon and headed straight to Minister of Trade Bailly's office, intending to discuss developing the area between Paris and Versailles into a commercial hub and a new scientific research zone.
However, his time with Queen Mary hadn't been without its rewards; she had promised him that from now on, as long as he brought the Swiss Guard and informed her, he could travel abroad anytime.
After instructing Bailly to proceed with the Paris expansion plans, Joseph then rushed off to the General Staff Headquarters building without stopping.
Due to the General Staff Headquarters' unique functions, its offices were located in a small two-story building next to the Royal Armory.
Although the area was not large, it was exceptionally busy. Dozens of civilian officers, armed with various documents, moved continuously between offices with different functions. Urgent shouts occasionally emanated from inside, a stark contrast to the languid atmosphere typical of traditional officer's offices.
Berthier, learning that the Crown Prince had arrived, quickly came out with several officers to greet him.
Before they could salute, Joseph immediately asked the question that concerned him most: "Has the officer named Napoleon reported for duty?"
The Chief of the General Staff was clearly not expecting the Crown Prince to be so interested in that young captain—who had only just been promoted—and paused for a moment before nodding. "Yes, Your Highness, he reported for duty the day before yesterday. He is currently assigned to the First Royal Guards Artillery Regiment."
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